Mattress making process and machine



Sept. 27, 1932. J, F GAlL 1,879,171

` MATTRESS MAKING PROCESS AND MACHINE Filed Marh 6, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 o 'q ""w" N N J L f O Q 9* T f o D N N D @.2 l N 6 l N l i wd E/U/GZTI JED/U11?? GCI/(L Sept. 27, 1932. J, F. GAIL 1,879,171

V MATTRFISS MAKING PROCESS AND MACHINE Filed March 6, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept-27, 1932. J. F. GAIL MATTRESS MAKING PROCESS AND MACHINE Filed March 6. 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept- 27, 1932- J. F. GAM. 1,879,171

MATTRESS MAKING PROCESS AND MACHINE Filed March 6, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 S .SQ l

Sept. 27, 1932. 1 F- GA|| 1,879,171

MATTRESS MAKING PROCESS AND MACHINE Filed March s, 1929 1o Sheets-sheet 5 J. F. GAIL sept. 27, 1932.

MATTRESS MAKING PROCESS AND MACHINE Filed March 6, 1929 lO Sheets-Sheet 6 @QN NSW @QN nsw Sept. 27, 1932. J. F. GAIL '1,879,171

MATTRESS MAKING PROCESS AND MACHINE Fliled March 6, 1929 l0 Sheets-Sheet ',T

Sept. 27, 1932. y JQF. GAIL 1,879,171

MATTRESS MAKING PROCESS AND MACHINE Filed March e, 1929 1o sheets-sheet 8 Q Q0 m fo J. F. GAlL sept. 27, 1932.

MATTRESS MAKING PROCESS AND MACHINE Filed March 6, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Sept. 27, 1932. J; F GAlL MATTRESS MAKIG PROCESS AND MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed March 6. 1929 @INN mw n

ltr III. (l.

.continuously formed filler web.

Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED" lSPATI'IS YlwraNrtoli-"I "lcl,

JOHN r. Glan., or EvANsToN, ILLINOIS, AssreNonfro SIMMONS" ooxraNYIor-Nnw YORK, N. Y., A coarom'non or 'DELAwAnE MFATTRESS MAKING PROCESS AND MACHINE v Application med March 6,

This invention relates to a process and machine for making mattresses and more particularly to making mattresses continuously.

Objects of the invention are to'provide a process and machine for the production of a continuous filler-web of mattress thickness, to produce such Va web which is adapted for composite or plated `mattresses, to roduce a filling machine adapted to hande a Other obJects of the invention are to pro-4 vide a machine of the class above referred to which is adjustable to fill mattresses ofvarious widths or depths; to provide a machine which is simple and easily operated a more or less unskilled person, to provi e a machine wherein the mattress filling operation is more quickly performed than has h eretofore been* possible; and, in general, 1t 1s1 the obj ect of my invention to provide animprovd machine for filling mattress` ticks.V

Other objects and advantages will be unf Y derstood by reference to the following specification and the accompanying drawings in whichI have illustrated a mattress filling machine4 embodying a selected form of' my invention.

Figs. l and 2 are diagrammatic plan and a side elevations respectively, of a machinev for continuously forming a mattress filling sup- Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic plan'and side elevations respectively, of a mattress tick filling machine embodying the features of my invention and adapted to be associatedl With the supply strip forming machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2. K

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation il- "lustrating the formation of the filling material supply strip.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the part of the machine diagrammatically shown in the left hand portion of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of thatpart of the machine diagrammatically illustrated in the right hand portion of Fig. 4. v

Fig. 8 is a plan of. the mechanism shown in Fig. 6, certain parts being broken away to facilitate illustration. f

i929. seran110.344.698. y

16 is a section illustrating adetail of construction ofa part of Fig. this section being takenon the line 16-16 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 17 is a erspective of a mattress tick having one en open to permit filling thereof by my approved. machine.

l Fig. 18 is a diagrammaticv section of a filled mattress tick; and

trationsothe mode of operationof my improved machine'. Y j 1 Referring now tothe drawings, I-have indicated diagrammatically in Figs. 1 and 2, a conveyor which constitutes .a part of a socalled. camel back, Garnett machine, `well known in the art, for forminga continuous strip of filling material. The belt 25 is continuously propelledand supported in any approved kmanner anda plurality of so-called camel back machineunits 26-26 are provided, each serving to deposit acomparatively thin sheet or layer of cotton or other suit able mattress filling material V,on the said conve or. These camel back units each have a disc across the conveyor belt 25, thereby forming a sort of zighzag'layer-built mattress filling supply strip. In the fer to group the units 26 in groups of three, as shown in Fig. l, 27 is located for supplyin filling material to the conveyor on top o an initial treble layer of cotton or other material distributed on the conveyor belt by means of the first set of machine units 26. As shown in Figs.

1 and 2, the three units 26 'at the right hand Figs. 19 20 and21 are diagrammatic..illus-V Fig. 9 is a plan of the mechanism )shown is a section thevline ofV Fig 10 isa sectionl on the line Vof arge endwhich travels back and forth present instance, I prebetween which a chute side of the figures `constitute the first series, and the three units at the left hand side of ,the figures constitute .the vsecond series, the

. veyor125, t e make up of which strip is shown in Fig. 5. The first three machine distributing units 26 4serve to form a bottom la` er 28 of the desired material, this layer bem in e'ec`ta treble layer since it is formed by t ree separate layers of material deposited by thek initialseriesof distributing units. An intermediate layer 29 of suitable material is deposited on top of the bottom layer 29 by means of the chute 27, lthe thickness of this intermediate layer being adjusted -vto suit requirements-anda third or top layer 30 .of filling material is deposited -on top ,of the said intermediate layer r29. The top layer 30 .is also formed of ythree separate layers of ma- .terial deposited vby the second set of three .distributing units 2.6. The intermediate layer '29 may lconveniently be formed of an inferior qualit of Vmaterial while the 4outer layers 28 :an -30 may be formed Vof a higher quality material. l

It will be understood that machines ofthe type above described `operate continuously and that it is `objectionable for vmany reasons `to stop 4the operation -of these machines. Hence, in order to maintain luniformity of the `thickness of 'the finished three layer or composite :mattress filler strip, it `is necessary to maintain continuous travel of the conveyor v25 on which the material is originally delposited.

,Heretofore, 'in ...the manufacture of mattresses, particularly in the filling .of mattress ticks with strips .of filling material, such as -shownfin Fig. 5, it has not been found entirely practicable to feed .the strip of filling- Amaterialcontinuously to the tick fi ng mechanism, partly for the reason .that the operavAccordingly, vit has been more or less necessary to interrupt the continuous travelof the strip of filling material formed bythe mechanism above described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

By .my present invention, I provide a ma.- chine for filling mattress ticks, which machine V'is so arranged that the continuous travel of the filling -strip need `notice interrupted.

The mattress tick filling machine shown in the present instance, vincludes a main supporting frame 31 (see Fig. 6) `which is mounted on wheels 32-32 sofas'tobe portable. Rails 33-33 are .provided for receiving `the wheels 32 and thereby lguiding the movement of the portable frame. A .pair of conveyors 34 zand-35 are carriedfby the portable frame31 rand arearranged to receive the strip of filling `material and to feed the same into a mattress tick. The conveyors 34 and 35 are preferably arranged to converge, as shown in Fig. llfl'so that the strip of material received thereby is compacted or compressed so that it will readily enter into the mattress tick. A mattress tick holderl indicated generally at 36 is car- -ried by the portable frame 31, the said tick holder being of generally well known construction and pivotally mounted as shown at 37 so as to permit pivotal movement thereof from operative position, as shown in Fig. 10, to a vertical position for facilitating the application or mounting of an empty mattress tick thereon. It will be understood bythose skilled in theart that a mattress tick is placed on the tick support 36 in inverted position so that the vinner face of one end of the tick is disposed between the bars 38 and 39 which extend between Vthe side members 40 and 41 of the tick support. Y

When a tick is mounted on the tick support, as above described, and a filler of the desired material is fed between the conveyors 34 and 35, the strip of fillin material is fed endwise against the end wa l of the .tick which is stretched between the bars 38 and 39. -Continued movement of the lfilling material strip causes the end wall of the tick to pass between the bars 38 and 39 and the sides of the tick :to ybe drawn around the bars or rolls 38 and y39 to cover the filling material which is fed between the said bars 38 and 39. The filled portion of the tick may be supported by means of a suitable table such as :indicated at 42, which is preferably attached to the portable frameso as to be Vmovable therewith. In accordance with wellknown practice, the conveyors 34 and 35 are adjustable tocontrol the extent of compression of the filling material strip and the tick support 36 is also adjustable t0 accommodate various sizes of mattress ticks. The tick supporting and filling mechanism above described is generally well known inthe art and hence, need not be further described in detail. However, so far as I am aware, it is -not old to mount the supportingframe on wheels or in any other manner to make .the same portable, as above described.

, Suitable mechanism for actuating the conveyors 34 and 35 is kprovided and will be hereinafter described.

According to the present invention, I may continue the receiving conveyor belt 25 outwardly to a suitable point for delivering the strip of material to the mattress filling mechanism vabove described and so as to permit the incorporationof certain features which I will presently describe. However, I prefer to provide a separate and independently driven conveyor 43 which includes front and rear supporting rolls 44 and 45 (see Figs. 4, 6 and 7). 'The rear end of the conveyor, which is the receiving end, is preferably disposed substantially co-planar with the discharge end of the strip formin machine conveyor 25, as shown in the said igs. 4 and 7. An initial portion of the feed conveyor 43 is preferably inclined upwardly as indicated at 46, so as to pass over a supporting roll 47 from which point the main length of the conveyor extends substantially horizontally and passes around a pair of rollers 48 and 49 to form an offset in the upper reach of the conveyor which extends between the front and rear supporting rolls 44 and 45, substantially as shown. The length of the said conveyor 43 between the front supporting roll 44 and the upper reach supporting roll 47, is preferably considerably greater than the length of an ordinary mattress and a plurality of intermediate supporting rolls 50-50 are provided for supporting the upper reach of the conveyor intermediate the rollsi48 and 47.

The offset forming rolls 48 and 49 are ro-v tatably mounted in brackets such as 51, which are secured at one end to the portable frame 31 and supported at their rear ends by means of legs 52 in which wheels 53 are rotatably mounted and adapted to engage the tracks 33.

The feed conveyor 43 is normally driven at the same rate of Speed as the conveyor 25 of the strip formin machine, so that' the strip of filling materlal will be continuously and uniformly fed forward by the conveyor 25 to the feed conveyor 43 and by the latter towards the tick filling mechanism above de v scribed. Any suitable means may be provided for effecting uniform speed of travel of the conveyor 25 and 43, and, in the present instance, I provide a pinion gear 54 which meshes with gears 55 and 56 carried by the shafts 57 and 58 respectively, of the conveyors 43 and 25. The pinion 54 may be carried by a rotatably mounted drive shaft 59 which may be driven in any suitable manner. It being understood'that the gears 55 and 56 are of like pitch diameters, it will be obvious that rotation imparted thereto by the pinion gear 54 will impart the same speed of rotation to the shafts 57 and 58. The rear roll 45 of the conveyor 43 and the front roll 60 of the conveyor 25 are, of course, of the same diameter so that the same speed of travel will be imparted to the conveyor belts 43 and 25.

The offset forming roll 48 is connected by means of gears 61 and 62 and an intermediate pinion 61, to the conveyor 35 of the tick filling mechanism so that -whn the conveyors 34 and 35 are actuated, the roll 48 will also be incidentally rotated independent of the rotation imparted thereto by the Atravel of the feed conveyor belt 43. For actuating the conveyors 34 and 35, I prefer to provide an electric motor indicated at 63, which motor is mounted by means of suitable brackets and supports on the portable frame 31. The motor shaft is provided with a pinion 64 which meshes with a gear 65, the latter being rotatably mounted on a shaft 66 but adapted to be clutched thereto so as to effect rotation of the same. Clutch mechanism for effecting driving engagement between the gear 65 and z the shaft 66 will presently be described. As best shown in Fig. 12, the shaft 66 carries" avworm gear 67 which meshes with a worm wheel 68, the latter being mounted on a shaft `69. rotatably mounted in suitable bearings provided in the motor support. A bevq. elled gear 7() is mounted on the outer end of the shaft 69 and meshes with a similar gear 71 Whichris secured to one end'of the shaft 72 on which is mounted a sprocket which constitutes a part of conveyor 35.- The above mentioned clutch mechanism includes a clutch part 74 which is secured-to the gear 65 and another clutch part 75 which is keyed to the shaft 66. The clutch parts 74 and 75, in the present instance, are in thel form of a cone clutch, as clearly shown in h Fig. 12, and engagement or disengagement of the clutch parts is controlledthrough the agency of a rod'76 which is disposed inv an .axial bore 77 provided in the shaft 66. The

Fig. 12, and a collar or washer 83 on the rod. 76 serves to transmit such movement of the rod to the clutch part 7 5, whereby the latter will be yieldingly held in driving engagement with the clutch part 74. The collar or washer 83 is axially slidable on the rod 76, a

nutJ 84 and' lock nut 85 Vbeing provided for :gdJustably positioning the washer on the rod :Phe clutch controlling rod76 is adapted to be manually controlled by means of a handy lever 86 which is provided with a hub part 87 rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing 88 provided in a bracket 89 which is secured to an uprighty part of the portable frame 31. The hand lever 86 is provided with laterally projecting calmsl 90-90, which are adapted t0 act against similar cams 91-91 formed on the face of the bracket 89. The cams 90 and 91 are operative to forcethe hand lever 86 away from the bracket 89 when the hand lever is rotated. f

The hub 87 of the hand lever is drilled out as indicated at 92 and a part of the bore is in` ternally threaded to receive an adjusting screw 93 which serves to positionia wear block 94 in the bore. A pin 95 interposed between the wear block 94 and the enlarged end 82 of the control rod 76 serves to transmit lateral ,Iznovement of the lever 86 to the control rod It will thus be seen that when the hand lever 86 is shifted so that the cams 90 and 91 coact to force the lever away from the 75 and a collar 97, which is positioned against the hub of the gear wheel 65, urges the clutch part to move out of engagement with the clutch part 74. The spring 79 is of sufiiciently greater strength to normally maintain the clutch parts in operative engagement against the tendency of the spring 96 to effect disengagement thereof. However, j spring 79 is compressed by the above described cam action on the hand lever 86, the spring 96` is permitted to effect disengagement of the said clutch parts. It will be understood that adjustment of the clutch acf tuating mechanism is permitted by means of the nut and lock nut 84 and 85 respectively, which control the position of the collar 83 on the rod 76 and also by means of the adjustable set screw 93 which controls position of the pin 95 with respect to the hand lever 86. A lock nut, 97 is provided for lockin the set screw 93 in the desired position o adjustment. For locking the hand lever 86 in the desired position of adjustment, that is to hold the clutch out of engagement or in engagenient, the hand lever is provided with a pivotally mounted and spring controlled hand grip 98 which controls a locking detent or dog 99, the latter being adapted to interlock with either one of a pair of notches 100 provided in a latch bar 101 which is mounted on the bracket 89.

It will be apparent that when'the clutch parts 74 and 75 are in operative engagement, the shaft 72 of the conveyor 35 will be driven. In accordance with well known practice, the conveyor includes sprockets such as shown at 102-102 around which a chain 103 passes and which chain cooperates with a 'second similarly mounted chain to support a plurality of crosswise extending slats 104 which form a substantially continuous, fiat conveyor surface. The conveyor 34 is of similar construction, and is driven from the shaft 72 of the conveyor 35. For so driving the conveyor 34, I provide a gear 105 on the free end of the shaft 72 and which gear meshes with a pinion 106 which is rotatably mounted in any suitable manner on a convenient part of the portable frame 31. The pinion 106 is connected to a sprocket 107 around which a chain 108 passes so as to be driven thereby. The chain 108 also passes around another sprocket 109 which is mounted on the shaft 110 of the conveyor 34. The gear ratios and pitch diameters of the sprockets which control the speed of travel imparted to the conveyor 34 are such that the conveyor 34 is when the The speed at which the conveyors 34 and 35 are driven is somewhat greater than the speed p at which the feed conveyor 43 is driven. Be'- 'cause of the gear connection 61-61L-62 between the roll 48 and conveyor 35, the roll 48 will be positively rotated at a greater speed than it would normally be rotated by the feed belt 43 which passes around the said roll. Hence, the offset forming roll 48 will rol rearwardly of the belt 43, thereby causing t e tick support and filling mechanism to so move rearwardly of the feed conveyor 4,91, this being due to the fact that the roll 48 is rotatably mounted in the bracket 51V which is secured to the portable frame 31.

The operation of filling amattress tick by means of my improved machine is diagrammaticallyillustrated in F igs.'19, 2O and 21. By reference to these figures, it will be seen that the supply strip of filling material indicated by the reference character F, is vfed forwardly by the conveyor 43, the strip being fed to the conveyor 35 at the offset formed in the upper reach of the feed conveyor 43. The conveyor 34 serves to compress the strip of filling material to a thickness which will readily pass between the cross bars 38 and 39 of the tick support. An empty mattress tick T is turned inside out and mounted on the tick support as shown in Fig. 19. To start la filling operation, the conveyors 34 and 35 are actuated whereby the offset forming roll 48 is also caused to rotate. Since the roll 48 is positively rotated fasterthan the travel of the feed conveyor 43 would normally cause the roll to rotate, the said roll 48, conveyors 34 and 35, and tick support 36 are caused to move rearwardly of the feed conveyor 43 as indicated by the arrow 111'in Fig. 20. The actual tick filling operation is) thus s ceded up as compared with the ordinary met od of feeding the filling material into the tick through stationary, that is, non-portable compressing conveyors, and as compared with the speed at which the filler supply strip is fed from the forming machine.

f When the mattress tick is completely filled, as shown in Fig. 21, the clutch mechanism 74 and 75 is disengaged to stop the operation of the conveyors 34 and 35 and the roll 48, after which the supply strip of filling material is broken off immediately in front of the tick support bars 38 and 39. The filled mattress tick then has the appearance more or less diagrammatically illustrated in section in Fig. 18, one end of the tick being open and adapted to be closed by means of an end flap E which may or may not be secured to either the top or bottom wall of the tick before the filling operation is started.

During the filling operation above described, the mattress supporting table 42, which is connected to the portable frame 31,

as indicated in Fig. 6, follows the portable frame so that the mattress is suitably supported thereon as indicated in Figs. 2O and 21. The free end of the table 42 may be supported in any suitable manner, for instance b means of legs such as 112 provided with rol ers such as 113 engaging the floor. During the time in .which the operator of the machine is breaking the strip of filling material in front of the tick supporting barsk 38 and 39, and While the filled matt-ress tick is being removed and an empty tick substituted, the offset forming roll 48 and conveyors 34 and 35 are caused to move forwardly in unison with the feed conveyor 43, suc return movement being due to the fact that the oset forming roll 48 is effectively locked against rotation because of its driving connection With the conveyor 35. rl`he portable frame mechanism is readily movable because of the Wheel and rail mounting thereof wherefore the belt 43 will not slip around the locked roll 48. The lower portion 438L of the conveyor 43 will serve to pull the lockedv roll 48, and incidentally, the portable frame 3l, forwardl towards the initial or starting position of tlie latter. It will be understood that the roll 48 and conveyors 34 and 35 cannot readily be caused to rotate in the reverse directiondue to frictional resistance to operation of the conveyors 34 and 35 and also due to the worm and worm wheel driving gears67 and 68, it being noted that'the pitch or angle of the teeth of the Wormwheel and Worm is such that the worm Wheel cannot effect rotation of the worm.

Return movement of the portable frame 31 with its conveyors 34 and 35 may continue until the original starting position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, is resumed or the return movement may be stopped as soon as an empty mattress tick has been properly ounted on the tick support to receive the lling material. For facilitating such repeated operation of the machine, that is to permit the machine to be repeatedly operated without Waiting for the portable frame to be returned to its initial starting position, the feed conveyor 43 is made of considerably greater length than the length of the ordinary mattress. This length may be made to suit conditions in the building in which the machine is housed or to suit an other operating requirements. Fig.. 2l ilustrates the position of the machine at the time of completion of the filling o'f a' mattress tick and ig. 19 shows the position of the parts after the filled mattress has been removed and an empty tick substituted so that the next tick filling operation may be started. As indicated by the arrows 114, in Figs. 21 and 19, the portable frame carrying the conveyors 34 and 35 is travelling in the forward direction, that is returning in unison with the travel of the feed conveyor 43. When the ready to begin a repetition of thetick filling i operation before the conveyors 34 and 35 have been returned to their initial starting position, which is approximately shown in he offset, formed by the roll 48, in the upper reach of the feed conveyor 43 serves as a discharge end in the said upper reach and it will be apparent that the location of this discharge end is adjustable longitudinally of the feed conve or 43. It will be seen that when the discharge end or'offset in the feed conveyor is moved rearwardly towards the receiving end of the feed conveyor, the effective length of the feed conveyor is shortened and that a part of the length of the conveyor is robbed or emptied of filling material. As shown in Fig. 21, the portion of the upper reach of the conveyor 43, located between the front supportin roll 44 and the intermediate roll49, is emptied of filling material. When the portable frame and conveyors 34and 35 are caused to move forwardly in unison with the travel of the conveyor 43, the filling material strip forming machine continues to feed the filling material to the feed conve or 43, thereby tending to fill up the emptied ength of the feed conveyor. Of course, it will-be understood that filling material is not deposited on the upper reach portion of the conveyor between the rolls 44 and 49, but that material is depos ited on the receiving end of the conveyor while the offset in the upper reach thereof moves forwardly towards its initial position. The effect is, of course, to fill up the said emptied lconveyor length. The table 42 is made of sufficient length to permit the same to follow the portable frame to its extreme rearward position so thatoperation .of the p machine need not be confined to the more or less 'forward positions shown .in Figs. 19, 20 and 21.

The intermediate supporting rolls 50 which support the upper reach of the feed conveyor 43 between the offset formin roll 48 and the supporting roll 47 are mova ly mounted on tracks 115 located on opposite sides of the feed conveyor 43. For so mounting the supporting rolls 50, they are provided with endwise extending shafts 116 which are journalled in trucks 117, the latter being provided with wheels 118 which engage the said tracks 115. It'will be apparent that when the portable frame is moved rearwardly of the conveyor 43 a sufficient distance, one or m`ore of the supporting rolls 50 will have ,Gip

, of the trucks 117 and thereby to` cause the same to move rearwardly on the tracks 115 as made necessary by rearward movement of the portable frame 31. One of the rolls may be secured to the end of the brackets 51, as best shown in Fig. 8 so that the feed conveyor belt 43 is effectively supported at all times vat a short distance from the olfset forming roll 48.

For causing the supporting rolls 50 to return to their initial or normal position, the trucks 117 are connected by suitable means such as chains 120, and by means of chains 121 to the bumpers 119. The rearmost supportin roll 50 may' be limited against iorwar movement by means of a chain '122 connected between itstrucks 117 and the rear ends of the tracks 115. (See i' at 129, may be provid `mounted in a suitable base veyor 43, I mount the front supportin roll 44 in a bearing block 123 which is sli ably part 124 and adapted to be adjusted longitudinally thereof by means of a set screw or bolt 125. The lower reach of the feed conve or 43 extending between the front su porting roll 44 and lthe rear supporting rol 45` is preferably supported intermediate its ends b means of a vertically adjustably Vmounte roll 126. This intermediate roll 126 is rotatably mounted in suitable bearing blocks 127 which are vertically slidably mounted on a pedestal or frame member 128 which also serves to su jSJort the intermediate supporting roll 417)'.

uitable screw adjusti .means indicated for effectin vertical adjustment of the bearing bloc 127 and ro1l126.

For guiding or sup rting the edges of the strip of filling material'on the feed conveyor 43 and between the compressing conveyors 34 and 35, I provide side guides which are preferably mounted so as to be adjustable crosswise of the conveyors, thereby facilitating use of the machine forflling mattresses of various widths. The side guides are also mounted so that at least a part of them are adjustable longitudinally in lunison with. the portable frame 31 so as to permit the above described movement of the latter longitudinally of the feed conveyor 43.

For guiding the strip of filling material While on the inclined receiving portion of the feed conveyor 43, I provide guide plates 130 and 131. These guide plates. are supported at their front ends by means of a supporting/ bar 132 which extends transversely of the Lenin conveyor as clearly shown in Fig. 9, and on which bar the guide plates are slidably mounted so as to be adjustable crosswise of the feed conveyor. As screw 133 having right andY left hand threads on its opposite end portions is also provided for effecting the said crosswise vadjustment of the guide plates 130 and 131 on the supporting bar 132, a hand wheel 134 being secured to one end of the screw to facilitate rotation thereof. The supporting bar 132 and screw 133 are suitably supported at their opposite ends .by means of upstanding posts or brackets 135 which are formed integral with or secured to frame elements in which the shafts 57 and 58 are journalled. The construction of the means for adjustably mounting the guide plates on the bar 132 and whereby the screw 133 is effective to adjust the guide plates will hereinafter be more fully described.

The opposite ends of the guide plates 13()l and 131 are similarly mounted on a supporting bar 136 and a screw 137 is provided for eiecting crosswise adjustment thereof. By reference to Figs. 15 and 16, it will be seen that the bar 136 is supported at its opposite ends by means of posts 138 which extend upwardly from the pedestals or frame members 128 and also that the screw is rotatably supported in the upper ends of the said posts, a hand wheel 139 being provided for facilitating rotation of the screw. The guide plates 130 and 131 are respectively mounted on the bar 136 through the agency of a sliding block 140 which is provided with a notch or groove in its lower face to fit over the supporting bar 136 (see also Fig. 10) An angle iron bracket 141 is secured to the bottom face of the sliding block 140 so as to lock the block on the bar and tHe respective guide plates are secured to the depending ange of the angle iron by rivetting or in any other suitable Ina-nner. The upper portions of the sliding blocks 140 are provided with internally threaded Iapertures which respectively receive the right and left hand threading provided on the adjustin screw 137. The mounting of the forward en s of the guide plates 130 and 131 on the bar 132 and screw 133 is similar to the above described form of mounting on the bar 136 and screw 137.

For guiding the filling material on the horizontal reach of the feed conveyor 43 and through the space between the compressing conveyors 34 and 35, 'I provide guide plates 142 and 143. These guide plates are suppprted at their outer or rearwardends by` ing slidably mounted on the adjacent ends of the guideplates 130 and 131. For so supporting the guide plates 142 and 143, I rovide rollers 144 and 145 on .the outside o the said guide plates 130 and 131, which rollers receive the top and bottom edges of the guide pla-tes 142 and 143, as clearly shownin Fig. It will also be understood that the outer ends of the guide plates 142 and' 143 are adjustable with the adjacent ends of the guide plates 130 and 131 through the agency of the screw 137 and hand wheel 139. i

Theinner or front ends of the guide plates 142 and 143 are connected by means of brackets 146 and 147 respectively, to an adjusting screw 148, which is rotatably mounted in brackets 149 carried by the portable frame lo 31. The screw 148 serves-to support the adand one end of the screw is squared as indicated at 150, to facilitate rotation thereof by means of a wrench or detachable hand wheel or the like.

Intermediate their ends, vthe ide plates 142 and 143 are similarly adjusta ly supported by means of a supporting bar 151 and an adjusting screw 152, these parts being suitably supported at their "ends by brackets 153 which are carried b the portable frame 31.

It will be seen t at the above described mounting for the guide plates `142A and 143 permits the same to move longitudinally of movement of the portab e frame 31. The elevated position of the horizontal portion of the feed conveyor 43 \with respect to the plane of the supply conveyor 25, permits the guide plates 142 and'143 to project over the conveyeffecting adjustment of the inclination of the upper conveyor 34, whereby the extent of compression of the filling material strip is controlled, need not be specifically described.. However, I have shown the conveyor 34 as including side arms 155 which are pivoted on' the shaft 156 of the rear sprockets of the con.

being vertically adjustable through the agency of adjusting screws, suchfas shown at 157 (Fig. 6).

In the description of the mattress filling operation hereinbefore given, I have indicated that the portable frame may not always be returned to its initial startin position before commencing successive lling operations. This, of course, would be due to the operators speed in removing filled mattress ticks and substituting empty mattress ticks as compared with the speed of travel of the feed conveyor 43. However, it will be obvious that if desired, the speed of the feed conveyor 43 and other parts effected thereby, may be jacent ends of the guide plates 142 and 143 the feed conveyor 43 inunison with such or 25vin case the mattress filling operation veyor, the front 'ends of the said side arms speeding up of the feed conveyor 43 includesl provision for the continuation of the supply of filling material as required for the particular mattress ticks to-be lled. j

I am aware that changes may be made in' the described form and construction of a. mattress filling machine embodying the principles of my invention but without departin from the spirit thereof, the scope of whic should be determined by reference to the fol- 1 lowing claims, which should be construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art. I

, I claim as my invention:

1. In combinationin a mattress fillin machine, means for continuously propelling aY vstrip of mattress filling material, means for supporting a mattress tick to receive saidpropelled filling materialstrip, and means forV advancing'said tick support relative to said filling material strip, thereby to speed up the tick filling operation. Y p Y 2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for continuously propelling 'a strip of mattress lling material, meansforsupporting a mattress tick to receive the strip propelled by said means, means for .advancing said tick support relative toy said fllin material strip so as to, in effect,

.feed said llingmaterial into said tickv faster than the material is fed by said conveyor thereby incidentally emptying a portion o the length of .said conveyor, and means operable after said tick is filled, for effecting return movement of said tick support, thereby permitting the filling material strip to be fed forward continuously to fill said emptied conveyor len h while said filled tick is being removed rom said tick sup ort and while an empty tick is bein mounte thereon. j

V3. In a machine o the cl'ass described, the

l combination of a continuously operating filling strip forming machine including a con veyor for continuously propelling the formed strip away from the machine, a continuously propelled receivin conveyor for receiving the strip from sai v strip forming' machine conveyor, means for supporting a tick to receive said filling material strip from said receiving conveyor, and means for advancing said tick support'relati've to said receiving conveyor, therebyy to speed up the tick filling operation.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a continuously operating filling strip forming machine including a conveyor for continuously propelling the formed strip away from the machine, a continuously propelled receiving conveyor for receiving lll the strip from said strip forming machine conveyor, means for supporting a tick to receive said filling material strip from said receiving conveyor, means for advancing said tick support relative to said receiving conveyor, whereby said material is, in effect, fed

combination of a continuously propelled con- 0 veyor for feeding mattress filling material,

front and rear rolls for supporting the front and rear ends of said conveyor, means intermediate said rolls providing an offset in the plane of the upper reach of said conveyor, normally located adjacent the front end of the conveyor and said means being movable longitudinally of the conveyor to vary the location of said offset in the length of said upper reach, a tick support for supporting a w( tick to receive said filling material from said conveyor at said offset, means for effecting rearward movement of said offset forming means, and means for causing said tick support to move y*in unison with said offset forming means so as to effect feeding of the filling material into the tick faster than said material is propelled by said conveyor.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a continuously propelled conveyor for feeding mattress filling material, front and rear rolls for supporting the front and rear ends of said conveyor, means intermediate said rolls providing an offset in the plane of the upper reach of said conveyor, said means being normally located adjacent the front end of the conveyor and movable longitudinally of the conveyor to vary the location of said offset in the length of said upper reach, a tick support for supporting a tick to receive said filling material from said conveyor at said offset, means for effecting rearward movement of said offset forming means, means for causing said tick support to move in unison with said offset forming means so as to effect feeding of the filling material from the conveyor into the tick faster than said material is propelled by said conveyor, whereby a portion of the length of said conveyor is emptied of filling material, and means for effecting return movement of said tick support and offset Vforming means, thereby permitting said emptied conveyor length to be refilled while the filled tick is being removed from said tick support and while an empty tick is being mounted thereon.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a continuously driven conveyor for propelling a strip of mattress filling material, means communicating with said conveyor intermediate its ends for discharging said material therefrom, a tick support for holding a tick in position to receive filling material from said discharge means, and means for effecting simultaneous, unitary movement of said tick support and discharge means rearwardly of said conveyor, thereby, in effect, to feed filling material into the tick faster than said material is fed by said conveyor. fn

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a continuously driven conveyor for propelling a strip of mattress filling material, means communicating with said conveyor intermediate its ends for discharging said material therefrom, a tick support for holding a tick in position to receive filling material from said discharge means, means for effecting simultaneous, unitary movement of said tick support and discharge means rearwardly of said conveyor, thereby, in effeet, to feed filling material into the tick faster than said material is fed by said conveyor, and whereby a portion of the length ofsaid conveyor is emptied of filling Vmaterial, and means for effecting return movement of said tick support and discharge means, thereby permitting said emptied conveyor length to be refilled while said filled tick is being moved from said tick support and while an empty tick is being mounted thereon. j

9. In amachine of the class described, the combination of a continuously propelled endless conveyor belt for propelling tick filling material, front and rear rolls for supporting the ends of said conveyor belt, means intermediate said front and rear rolls and associated with the upper reach of said conveyor for providing an offset in said upper reach, means for supporting a mattress tick in position to receive said filling material from said conveyor at said offset, means for effecting rearward movement of said offset forming means and tick supporting means relative to said conveyor, whereby, in effect, filling material is discharged from said conveyor into said tick faster than such material is fed by the conveyor and whereby a portion of the length of said upper reach is emptied of filling material, and means for effecting return movement of said offset forming means and tick support, thereby permitting said emptied conveyor length to be refilled While the filled tick is being removed from said tick support and while an empty tick is being mounted thereon.

10. A machine of the class described, the combination of an endless belt conveyor for propelling a strip of mattress filling material, front and rear end rolls supporting the Vfront and rear ends of said conveyor belt, a pair of rolls, associated' with the upper reach of said belt conveyor and forming an offset therein, said pair of rolls being movable longitudinally of the conveyor so as to vary the location of said offset in the length of said upper reach, a tick support, means for receiving said tick filling material from said conveyor at said offset and iding the same into a tick mounted on sai support, means for effecting simultaneous movement of said offset, receiving and guiding means, and tick support, rearwardly of said conveyor whereby, in effect, filling from said conveyor into said tick, faster than said material is fed by said conveyor, and

whereby a portion of the length of said upper" reach is emptied of filling material, and means for effecting simultaneous return movement of said parts, thereby permitting emptied conveyer length to be refilled While the filled tick is being removed from said sup-v port and while an empty tick is being mounted thereon.

l1'. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a continuously propelled belt conveyor for feeding filling material, a pair of rotatably mounted rolls associated with the upper reach of said conveyor and arranged so as to form an 'offset in said .upper reach intermediate the ends thereof, a tick support having means for supporting a'tick to receive filling material from ,said conveyor at said offset, said tick support and said pair of offset forming rolls being mounted so as `to be movable in unison, longitudinally of said conveyor, means for effecting rearward movement of said parts relative to said conveyor, whereby filling material is fed from said conveyor into a tick carried by said tick support, faster than the material is fed by said conveyor and whereby a portion of the length of said upper reach is emptiedy of filling material, and means for effecting return movement of said parts after the tick is filled,

thereby permitting said emptied conveyor pprtion to be refilled while the filled tick is ing removed from said support and while an empty tick is being mounted thereon.

12. In a machine of the'class described, the combination of a continuously propelled belt conveyor for feeding filling material, said conveyor being of considerably greater length than the normal length of a mattress, a pair of rotatably mounted rolls associated with the upper reach of said conveyor and arranged sol as to form an offset in said upper reach intermediate the ends thereof, a tick vsupport having means for supporting a tick to receive filling material from said conveyor at said offset, said tick support and said pair of offset forming rolls being mounted so as to be movable in unison, longitudinally of said conveyor, means for effecting rearward movement of said parts relative to said conmaterial is discharged emptied of filling material, and' means for effecting return movement of said parts after 70 tied conveyor portion to be refilled Wh1 the tick is filled, thereby permitting said emp- 'le t e filled tick is being removed from saiyypport and while an empty tick is being mo nted thereon, the excess length of said con eyor 75 permitting successive filling operation to be started before the entire length of said conveyor is refilled with filling material.

13. In a machine of the class described', the combination of a continuously driven belt conveyor` for feeding filling material, said conveyor including relatively fixed front and rear supporting rolls, a portable frame, movable longitudinally of said conveyor, 'a tick support carried by said frame, means also carried by said frame for effecting feeding of filling material from said conveyor into a tick mounted on said tick support, said means being operative to feed said material from said conveyor intermediate said front and rear supporting rolls, means for effecting movement of said frame and parts carried thereby rearwardly of said conveyor, thereby, in effect, to feed filling material into the tick faster than said material is fed b said conveyor and' whereby a portion of the ength of said conveyor is emptied of filling material, and means for effecting return movement of said frame and parts, thereby permitting said emptied conveyor length to be refilled while' said filled tick is being removed from said tick support and while an empty tick is being I mounted'thereon.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a continuously driven belt conveyor for feeding filling material, said conveyor including relatively fixed frontand rear supporting rolls, a portable frame, movable longitudinally of said conveyor, a tick support carried by, said frame, means also n carried by said frame for effecting feeding of filling material from said conveyor into a tick mounted on said tick support, said means f being operative to feed said material from y said conveyor intermediate said front and/ n rear supporting rolls, power means for/ independently actuating said belt conveyor and. said portable frame, clutch means for selectively engaging and disengaging said power A means for effecting rearward movement of no said portable frame and parts carried thereby relative to said conveyor, thereby, in effect, to feed filling material into the tick :faster than said material is fed by said conveyor,

and whereby a portion of the length of said m5 conveyor is emptied of filling material, means for effecting return movement of said port- 1 able frame when said clutch is disengaged, thereby permitting said filling material conveyor to be continuously propelled and Said 13o combination of a continuously pro support carried by said emptied conveyor length refilled while said filled tick is being removed from said tick support and while an empty tick is being mounted thereon.

15. In ak machine of the class described, the combination of a continuously propelled belt conveyor for feeding lling material, means for continuously supplying filling material to said conveyor, a portable frame, movable longitudinally of said feed conveyor, a tick support carried by said frame, a pair of rolls carried by said frame and associated with the upper reach of said feed conveyor to provide an offset therein, a pair of vertically spaced conve ors carried by said frame for receiving fi ling material at said offset from said feed conveyor 'and operative to compress the material and to feed same into a tick mounted on said tick support, power means for ef- 'fecting movement of said frame and the parts carried thereby rearwardly of said feed conveyor. thereby, iii effect, to feed filling material into said tick faster than said material is fed to said feed conve or and whereby a portion of the length of t e latter is emptied of filling material, and means for effecting return movement of said portable frame and associated parts, thereby permitting said filling material supply' means to supply material' to said emptied conveyor length while the filled tick is being removed from said tick support and while an empty tick i's being mounted thereon.

16. In a machine of the class described, the lled belt conveyor for feeding filling material, means for continuously supplying lling material t0 said conveyor, a portable frame, movable longitudinally of said feed conveyor, a tick frame, a pair of rolls carried by saidframe and associated with the aupper reach of said feed conveyor to provide` an offset therein, a pair of vertically'spaced conve ors carried by said rame for receiving filing material at said oset from said feed conveyor and operative to com ress the material and to feed same into a tic mounted on said tick sup ort, gears connectin one fof said offset forming rolls with one o said pair of conveyors, power means for driving said vertically spaced conveyors independ Aently of saidffeeding conveyor and operative to effect rotation of said offset forming roll at a greater circumferenti'al/ speed than the s d of travel of said feeding conveyor.. t ereby to effect rearward movementof said lframe and associated parts relative to said feed conveyor, whereby, in effect, filling material is fed into said tick faster than said material is supplied to said feed conveyor by said supply means and whereby a portion of the length of said feed conveyor is emptied of filling material, means for disengaging said vertically spaced conveyor actuating 'power means, whereby the travel of said feeding conveyor is imparted to said ortable frame to effect return movement of t e same and whereby said filling material supply means is permitted to continue 'sup lying material to said feed conveyor to fill up said emptied length while the filled tick is being removed from said tick support and while an empty tick is being mounted thereon.

17. In a machine of the cla described, the combination of a continuously propelled belt conveyor for feeding filling material, said conveyor includin front and rear supporting rolls, means or continuously supplyin fillingmaterial to said conveyor, a

porta le frame movable longitudinally of said conveyor, a tick support carried by said frame, means carried by said frame for receiving filling material from said conveyor intermediate said front and rear rolls and operative to compress and feed the material into a tick carried by said tick support, means for effecting rearward movement of said frame and parts carried thereby relative to` `associated parts, thereby permitting filling material to be supplied to said emptied conveyor len h while the filled tick is being removed om said tick support and while an em ty tick is being mounted thereon.

18. n a machine of the class described, the combination of a continuously propelled belt .conveyor for feeding filling material, said conveyor including front and rear supporting rolls, means for continuously supplyin filling material to said conve or, a porta le frame movable longitudina ly of said conveyor, a tick support carried b said frame, means carried by mid frame Aor reoeiving filling material from said conveyor intermediate said front and rear rolls and operative to com ress and feed the material into a tick carri by said tick support, means for eecting rearward movement of said frame and parts carried thereby, whereby filling material is, in effect, fed from said conveyor intoa tick carried by said tick sup port faster than said material is fed by said conveyor, a side guide longitudinally slidablymounted over said feed conveyor for controlling the width of the fillin material thereon, said guide being connecte with said portable frame so as to move therewith, means for effecting adjustment of said guide crosswise of the conveyor, and means for effecting return movement of said portable frame and associated parts, thereby permiti 

